title: The intrinsic risk factors for ACL ruptures: an evidence-based review.
abstract: This article aims to assess the evidence related to the intrinsic risk factors for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures. The level of evidence (according to evidence-based guidelines) for each study and the level of certainty for each risk factor were determined. After a review of the evidence, femoral notch geometry was the only risk factor that was found to be associated with risk of ACL rupture with high certainty. This review concludes that more research, particularly high-quality, prospective studies, are required to provide accurate measures of risk. These data should be used to establish multifactorial risk factor models designed to identify individuals at high risk of sustaining an ACL injury.
authors.affiliation: UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. mposthumus@mweb.co.za
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Posthumus
authors.forename: Malcolm
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: Alison V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: September
authors.forename: Martin P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Schwellnus
mesh_terms: D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001265:Athletic Injuries; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012307:Risk Factors